It's called rap/hiphop.
Posted on 12/14/2006 7:54:24 AM PST by meg88
A "silent night" as carolers told to stop singing at skating show
RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) -- A high school choir was asked to stop singing Christmas carols during an ice skating show featuring Olympic medalist Sasha Cohen out of concern the skater would be offended because she's Jewish.
A city staff member, accompanied by a police officer, approached the Rubidoux High School Madrigals at the Riverside Outdoor Ice Skating Rink just as they launched into "God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman" and requested that the troupe stop singing, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported Thursday.
Cohen, the 2006 Olympic silver medalist and 2006 U.S. National Champion, had just finished her performance at the rink on the downtown pedestrian mall, and was signing autographs.
Choir director Staci Della-Rocco said she complied with the request "because a policeman told me to stop. I didn't want to have a big old huge scene in front of my kids," according to the newspaper.
The city staff member, special-events employee Michelle Baldwin, could not be reached for comment. City Development Director Belinda J. Graham confirmed the incident.
"This request was simply made by a staff member who was attempting to be sensitive to the celebrity guest, without considering the wider implications ... or consulting with her supervisor for guidance," Graham said in an e-mail to the newspaper.
Mayor Ron Loveridge called the incident "unfortunate."
"You kind of wish people do a little checking first. You certainly have my apology," he said, referring to the choir members.
A spokeswoman with the New York-based PR firm that helped promote the event said Cohen did not make the request to silence the singers.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
It's called rap/hiphop.
No one associated with Cohen was consulted or involved. Check the story again. It was a Riverside,CA city employee that went to the police and asked the choir to stop. The mayor has apologized.
Disgusting how the hate-Christian virus has spread.
LOL, I take it you are male, that had to have hurt. LOL
Thank you. I miss this picture.
Right click, save as background ;)
I'll agree that she has a smoking hot body. But I'm not a fan of that face. Sorry.
Nobody can stretch like Sasha. Unfortunately, nobody can fall down like her, too.
I have seen Cohen actually skate in Christmas-themed shows as her professional sport dictates that Christmas is the money maker time of the year for people to attend them.
I doubt what is sung by a high school choir is going to upset Cohen.
This is another finger wagging nobrainer by the education system bringing up our young... which should be more offensive to the people than the chosen Christmas Carol.
Excellent! Love it.
How about actually ASKING if she will be offended before you ask the choir to stop singing?
Oh I don't know that I agree with that, many others at her level of skating also fall. That tends to happen when one is attempting triple and quad jumps.
Her face does remind me of Christina Ricci.
Is is city practice for unformed officers to give the weight of law to "requests" by low level staffers? Is there a legal requirement to comply with such requests conveyed by said officer?
It also generally only happens in long programs.
I much prefer "force" as a consequence ~ best to say what you mean and mean what you say.
Poor Sasha ~ I would imagine her PR flaks haven't told her yet lest she be offended that people think she's some sort of prima donna anti-Christian type rather than a top Olympic athlete who lives in the world.
You can find plenty of pictures and other information at:
http://www.sashacohen.com/index2.shtml
It's reported there that: "Sasha with Christina Aguilera in New York where they both performed at the lighting of the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center."
Got to go backstage in Memphis a few years ago to meet Brian Boitano. Boitaino could hardly walk.
A public event? THAT I just do not understand.
It doesn't matter if you got it from a "friend" or not. You're not a newbie. You know freepers have a basic duty to ensure we don't post easily disprovable lies.
Wasn't her though.
It WAS the "impartial" New York CITY official who decided that SHE didn't want "Christ" in Christmas music.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.